19-20

A natural 4-8' deep slab avalanche broke on Saddle Peak within the last couple days (2/6 or 2/7) during the current storm. The mountains received 3-5 feet of snow equal to 3-5" of SWE over the last week with more snow in the forecast. Photo: GNFAC

A natural 4-8' deep slab avalanche broke on Saddle Peak within the last couple days (2/6 or 2/7) during the current storm. Huge avalanches like this are likely and can be triggered by a human for the next couple days. The mountains received 3-5 feet of snow equal to 3-5" of SWE over the last week with more snow in the forecast. This heavy load is overloading a fragile snowpack, especially on wind loaded slopes. Travel conservatively. Photo: GNFAC

A natural 4-8' deep slab avalanche broke on Saddle Peak within the last couple days (2/6 or 2/7) during the current storm. Huge avalanches like this are likely and can be triggered by a human for the next couple days. The mountains received 3-5 feet of snow equal to 3-5" of SWE over the last week with more snow in the forecast. This heavy load is overloading a fragile snowpack, especially on wind loaded slopes. Travel conservatively. Photo: GNFAC

A natural 4-8' deep slab avalanche broke on Saddle Peak within the last couple days (2/6 or 2/7) during the current storm. Huge avalanches like this are likely and can be triggered by a human for the next couple days. The mountains received 3-5 feet of snow equal to 3-5" of SWE over the last week with more snow in the forecast. This heavy load is overloading a fragile snowpack, especially on wind loaded slopes. Travel conservatively. Photo: GNFAC

A natural 4-8' deep slab avalanche broke on Saddle Peak within the last couple days (2/6 or 2/7) during the current storm. Huge avalanches like this are likely and can be triggered by a human for the next couple days. The mountains received 3-5 feet of snow equal to 3-5" of SWE over the last week with more snow in the forecast. This heavy load is overloading a fragile snowpack, especially on wind loaded slopes. Travel conservatively. Photo: GNFAC

"Noted two SS-D1.5/2 naturals (presuming based on lack of any sort of tracks) on Wheeler, typical spots for these conditions, both SE aspect around 8000'." Photo: G. Antoniolli

"Noted several avalanches (NW aspect ~ 8800') off of Elephant that traveled quite far into the trees where the summer trail typically runs, all appear to be new snow, D1- D2 in size, average 2' crowns, running on old/new interface from  Feb 2. They appear to have run midstorm, sometime yesterday (photos 1,2,3).  Above 9000', W Winds were crafting fresh wind slabs that were most reactive on a midstorm crystal/density change that buried a layer of stellars ~ 1' deep in shallower spots,  topped with denser snow." Photo: G. Antoniolli

"Noted several avalanches (NW aspect ~ 8800') off of Elephant that traveled quite far into the trees where the summer trail typically runs, all appear to be new snow, D1- D2 in size, average 2' crowns, running on old/new interface from  Feb 2. They appear to have run midstorm, sometime yesterday (photos 1,2,3).  Above 9000', W Winds were crafting fresh wind slabs that were most reactive on a midstorm crystal/density change that buried a layer of stellars ~ 1' deep in shallower spots,  topped with denser snow." Photo: G. Antoniolli